About forty persons have been prosecuted for contravening environmental laws at two of the Oyo State government tribunals on Monday.
The offenders were fined for indiscriminate refuse dumping and lack of proof of registration with authorized waste evacuators, as well as those caught contravening laws restricting the movement of persons during sanitation hours.
The fine sentences, according to the State Ministry of Environment, varied according to offences, with the minimum being N2500 and maximum N10, 000 per offence.
The State, in its bid to comply with the (environment focused) goals 6, 11,13, 15 of the SDGs, the Oyo State government has recommenced the prosecution of violators of the Oyo state environmental laws so as to achieve compliance.
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The chairman of the Oyo state environmental task force, ACP Francis Ojomo, while speaking with journalists said the State the government was committed to environmental sustainability and would not relent in ensuring cleanliness because it has a ripple effect on the ecosystem.
The task force head called on all the citizens and residents of Oyo State to take responsibility in seeing to the regular sanitation of their environment as it directly impacts society and economic growth.
ACP Ojomo said the environmental protection was not only vital to the State, but also to the world, as various international conversations centred around climate change and global warming, adding that Oyo State would do all within its power to contribute to the best global practices in environmental protection.
“The environmental protection effort is not only vital to the State, but also to the world, as various international conversations now centre around climate change and global warming.
“Oyo State will do all within its power to contribute to the best global practices in environmental protection, we have shown this with the enforcement power being brought into the efforts like advocacy and campaign against environmental law violation.”
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The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Bashir Olanrewaju assured the general public that the Seyi Makinde-led administration was committed to acts that would ensure safe public health.
He expressed his displeasure to the indiscriminate refuse dumping in many areas in the State, stating the government’s position of zero tolerance to filth and its attendant consequences.
He enjoined the public to abide by environmental laws and avoid illegal dumping of refuse by the roadside, in waterways and in unauthorized points as this, according to him, would attract heavy fines of jail terms in accordance with the provision of the law
